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Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2023) | Viewed by 37090

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Paul Cătălin Balaure

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Guest Editor

Department of Organic Chemistry, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: bioactive nanocoatings; nano drug delivery systems; advanced organic synthesis and analysis; magnetic nanofluids for biomedical applications; electrochemical sensors and biosensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu

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Guest Editor

Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, Politehnica University of Bucharest, RO-011061 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: synthesis and characterization of nanobiomaterials; polymers; pharmaceutical nanotechnology; drug delivery; anti-biofilm surfaces; nanomodified surfaces; natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomedicine encompassing the use of nanotechnology for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing fields in modern healthcare. Systemic administration of bulk drugs suffers from a series of major drawbacks such as poor bioavailability, rapid degradation within the body, improper biodistribution, lack of targeted delivery to injured tissues resulting in important side effects, development of multidrug resistance, and low therapeutic efficacy.

Nanoscale formulations of drugs can circumvent the above disadvantages due to a series of unique features derived from their small dimensions, which are size correlated with the biological systems on which they act. Smart engineering of nano drug delivery systems (NDDS) endows them with multifunctional capabilities such as stealth properties evading the patient immune system and prolonging circulation time, specific ligand-guided drug delivery to targeted diseased areas without damaging healthy tissues, stimuli-responsive drug release allowing specific spatiotemporal controlled release, ability to penetrate cells, ability to improve drug solubilization in biological fluids improving bioavailability, and the ability to modulate drug pharmacokinetics.

Nanotechnology also helps with imagistic diagnosis and clinical analyses. Theranostic nanomedicine uses nano formulations that integrate both drugs and imaging agents into a single platform. Such nano formulations are used for monitoring drug accumulation at the targeted site versus off-target localization (non-invasive monitoring of drug biodistribution, which is in strict correlation with the magnitude of the harmful side effects), for monitoring drug release after intracellular uptake of the nanocarrier, and for assessing therapeutic outcome, for instance, malign tumor regression in cancer disease. Therefore, theranostic nano formulations have a great potential to predict which individual patients have the best chance to respond appropriately to a particular nanomedicine treatment, especially in the case of such a heterogenous disease as cancer. Thus, theranostic nanomedicine broadly opens the way to personalized medicine, shifting the therapeutic paradigm to a more holistic approach of “treating the patient, not just the disease”.

Through appropriate surface or bulk functionalization, the physicochemical and pharmacological features of nanocarriers used for drug delivery and theranostic purposes can be finely tuned, being given a large diversity of molecular and supramolecular structures of such nanovehicles. Lipid-based such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), lipid nanostructured carriers (LNCs), liposomes, and micelles, polymer-based such as self-assembled amphipathic block copolymer micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, and dendrimers are the most used organic nanocarriers. Inorganic nanocarriers include carbon-based materials (carbon nanotubes—CNTs, and graphenes), quantum dots (QDs), metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs). Hybrid organic–inorganic nanocarriers also have great potential in nanomedicine. Functionalized nanomaterials are components in the transducers of diverse biosensors for clinical analyses.

Healthcare-associated (nosocomial) infections (HAIs), most of which are produced by recalcitrant pathogenic biofilms, can be prevented and controlled using smart functionalized nanocoatings which are able to prevent bacteria from settling onto biotic or abiotic surfaces, to kill already settled bacteria or to disrupt the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways responsible for recalcitrance development. Nevertheless, when it comes to the biomedical application of functionalized nanomaterials, biocompatibility, biodegradability, lack of immunogenicity, and toxicity are primordial importance issues that must be carefully addressed.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the newest and most significant achievements in developing novel functionalized nanomaterials and nanostructures to be applied in the biomedical field.

We kindly invite you to submit a manuscript(s) for this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Dr. Paul Cătălin Balaure
Dr. Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

nanomedicine
stimuli-responsive nanocarriers
targeted and controlled release drug delivery
theranostic nanoparticles
personalized medicine
biosensors
healthcare-associated infections
recalcitrant pathogenic biofilms
smart engineered antibiofilm nanocoatings
nanocarrier toxicity

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Miconazole Nitrate Microparticles in Lidocaine Loaded Films as a Treatment for Oropharyngeal Candidiasis

by Guillermo Tejada, Natalia L. Calvo, Mauro Morri, Maximiliano Sortino, Celina Lamas, Vera A. Álvarez and Darío Leonardi

Materials 2023, 16(9), 3586; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16093586 - 7 May 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2263

Abstract

Oral candidiasis is an opportunistic infection that affects mainly individuals with weakened immune system. Devices used in the oral area to treat this condition include buccal films, which present advantages over both oral tablets and gels. Since candidiasis causes pain, burning, and itching, the purpose of this work was to develop buccal films loaded with both lidocaine (anesthetic) and miconazole nitrate (MN, antifungal) to treat this pathology topically. MN was loaded in microparticles based on different natural polymers, and then, these microparticles were loaded in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-gelatin-based films containing lidocaine. All developed films showed adequate adhesiveness and thickness. DSC and XRD tests suggested that the drugs were in an amorphous state in the therapeutic systems. Microparticles based on chitosan-alginate showed the highest MN encapsulation. Among the films, those containing the mentioned microparticles presented the highest tensile strength and the lowest elongation at break, possibly due to the strong interactions between both polymers. These films allowed a fast release of lidocaine and a controlled release of MN. Due to the latter, these systems showed antifungal activity for 24 h. Therefore, the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis with these films could reduce the number of daily applications with respect to conventional treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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16 pages, 3994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Synthesized sAuNPs as a Potential Delivery Platform for Cytotoxic Alkaloids

by Byron Mubaiwa, Mookho S. Lerata, Nicole R. S. Sibuyi, Mervin Meyer, Toufiek Samaai, John J. Bolton, Edith M. Antunes and Denzil R. Beukes

Materials 2023, 16(3), 1319; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031319 - 3 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2129

Abstract

The use of natural products as chemotherapeutic agents is well established. However, many are associated with undesirable side effects, including high toxicity and instability. Previous reports on the cytotoxic activity of pyrroloiminoquinones isolated from Latrunculid sponges against cancer cell lines revealed extraordinary activity at IC₅₀ of 77nM for discorhabdins. Their general lack of selectivity against the cancer and normal cell lines, however, precludes further development. In this study, extraction of a South African Latrunculid sponge produced three known pyrroloiminoquinone metabolites (14-bromodiscorhabdin C (5), Tsitsikammamine A (6) and B (7)). The assignment of the structures was established using standard 1D and 2D NMR experiments. To mitigate the lack of selectivity, the compounds were loaded onto gold nanoparticles synthesized using the aqueous extract of a brown seaweed, Sargassum incisifolium (sAuNPs). The cytotoxicity of the metabolites alone, and their sAuNP conjugates, were evaluated together with the known anticancer agent doxorubicin and its AuNP conjugate. The compound-AuNP conjugates retained their strong cytotoxic activity against the MCF-7 cell line, with >90% of the pyrroloiminoquinone-loaded AuNPs penetrating the cell membrane. Loading cytotoxic natural products onto AuNPs provides an avenue in overcoming some issues hampering the development of new anticancer drugs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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12 pages, 3901 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Characterization of Citric Acid-Modified Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Prepared with Electrohydraulic Discharge Treatment

by Vladimer Mikelashvili, Shalva Kekutia, Jano Markhulia, Liana Saneblidze, Nino Maisuradze, Manfred Kriechbaum and László Almásy

Materials 2023, 16(2), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020746 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3801

Abstract

Chemical co-precipitation from ferrous and ferric salts at a 1:1.9 stoichiometric ratio in NH₄OH base with ultrasonication (sonolysis) in a low vacuum environment has been used for obtaining colloidal suspensions of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coated with citric acid. Before coating, the nanoparticles were processed by electrohydraulic discharges with a high discharge current (several tens of amperes) in a water medium using a pulsed direct current. Magnetite nanoparticles were obtained with an average crystallite diameter D = 25–28 nm as obtained by XRD and particle sizes of 25 nm as measured by small-angle X-ray scattering. Magnetometry showed that all samples were superparamagnetic. The saturation magnetization for the citric acid covered samples after electrohydraulic processing showed higher value (58 emu/g) than for the directly coated samples (50 emu/g). Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the presence and binding of citric acid to the magnetite surface by chemisorption of carboxylate ions. Hydrodynamic sizes obtained from DLS and zeta potentials were 93 and 115 nm, −26 and −32 mV for the citric acid covered nanoparticles and 226 nm and 21 mV for the bare nanoparticles, respectively. The hydraulic discharge treatment resulted in a higher citric acid coverage and better particle dispersion. The developed method can be used in nanoparticle synthesis for biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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16 pages, 5853 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

One Pot Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles for Efficient Antibacterial Activity

by Rajaram Rajamohan, Chaitany Jayprakash Raorane, Seong-Cheol Kim and Yong Rok Lee

Materials 2023, 16(1), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010217 - 26 Dec 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3492

Abstract

The unique semiconductor and optical properties of copper oxides have attracted researchers for decades. However, using fruit waste materials such as peels to synthesize the nanoparticles of copper oxide (CuO NPs) has been rarely described in literature reviews. The main purpose of this part of the research was to report on the CuO NPs with the help of apple peel extract under microwave irradiation. Metal salts and extracts were irradiated at 540 W for 5 min in a microwave in a 1:2 ratio. The crystallinity of the NPs was confirmed by the XRD patterns and the crystallite size of the NPs was found to be 41.6 nm. Elemental mapping of NPs showed homogeneous distributions of Cu and O. The NPs were found to contain Cu and O by EDX and XPS analysis. In a test involving two human pathogenic microbes, NPs showed antibacterial activity and the results revealed that the zone of inhibition grew significantly with respect to the concentration of CuO NPs. In a biofilm, more specifically, NPs at 25.0 µg/mL reduced mean thickness and biomass values of S. aureus and E. coli biofilms by >85.0 and 65.0%, respectively, with respect to untreated controls. In addition, environmentally benign materials offer a number of benefits for pharmaceuticals and other biomedical applications as they are eco-friendly and compatible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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16 pages, 10360 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Macroporous Mannitol Granules Produced by Spray Drying and Sacrificial Templating

by Morgane Valentin, Damien Coibion, Bénédicte Vertruyen, Cédric Malherbe, Rudi Cloots and Frédéric Boschini

Materials 2023, 16(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010025 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1952

Abstract

In pharmaceutical applications, the porous particles of organic compounds can improve the efficiency of drug delivery, for example into the pulmonary system. We report on the successful preparation of macroporous spherical granules of mannitol using a spray-drying process using polystyrene (PS) beads of ~340 nm diameter as a sacrificial templating agent. An FDA-approved solvent (ethyl acetate) was used to dissolve the PS beads. A combination of infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry analysis proved the efficiency of the etching process, provided that enough PS beads were exposed at the granule surface and formed an interconnected network. Using a lab-scale spray dryer and a constant concentration of PS beads, we observed similar granule sizes (~1–3 microns) and different porosity distributions for the mannitol/PS mass ratio ranging from 10:1 to 1:2. When transferred to a pilot-scale spray dryer, the 1:1 mannitol/PS composition resulted in different distributions of granule size and porosity depending on the atomization configuration (two-fluid or rotary nozzle). In all cases, the presence of PS beads in the spray-drying feedstock was found to favor the formation of the α mannitol polymorph and to lead to a small decrease in the mannitol decomposition temperature when heating in an inert atmosphere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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20 pages, 11321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leonotis nepetifolia Flower Bud Extract Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles, Their Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation of Biological Applications

by Shashiraj Kariyellappa Nagaraja, Shaik Kalimulla Niazi, Asmatanzeem Bepari, Rasha Assad Assiri and Sreenivasa Nayaka

Materials 2022, 15(24), 8990; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248990 - 16 Dec 2022

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 2298

Abstract

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the green matrix is an emerging trend and is considered green nanotechnology because it involves a simple, low-cost, and environmentally friendly process. The present research aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles from a Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br. flower bud aqueous extract, characterize these nanoparticles, and perform in vitro determination of their biological applications. UV-Vis spectra were used to study the characterization of biosynthesized L. nepetifolia-flower-bud-mediated AgNPs (LnFb-AgNPs); an SPR absorption maximum at 418 nm confirmed the formation of LnFb-AgNPs. The presumed phytoconstituents subjected to reduction in the silver ions were revealed by FTIR analysis. XRD, TEM, EDS, TGA, and zeta potential with DLS analysis revealed the crystalline nature, particle size, elemental details, surface charge, thermal stability, and spherical shape, with an average size of 24.50 nm. In addition, the LnFb-AgNPs were also tested for antimicrobial activity and exhibited a moderate zone of inhibition against the selected pathogens. Concentration-dependent antioxidant activity was observed in the DPPH assay. Further, the cytotoxicity increased proportionate to the increasing concentration of the biosynthesized LnFb-AgNPs with a maximum effect at 200 μg/mL by showing the inhibition cell viability percentages and an IC₅₀ of 35.84 μg/mL. Subsequently, the apoptotic/necrotic potential was determined using Annexin V/Propidium Iodide staining by the flow cytometry method. Significant early and late apoptosis cell populations were observed in response to the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PANC-1) cell line, as demonstrated by the obtained results. In conclusion, the study’s findings suggest that the LnFb-AgNPs could serve as remedial agents in a wide range of biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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21 pages, 4213 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Based Hydrogel with Core–Shell Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ Nanoparticles for Quercetin Delivery

by Mohammad Mahdi Eshaghi, Mehrab Pourmadadi, Abbas Rahdar and Ana M. Díez-Pascual

Materials 2022, 15(24), 8711; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248711 - 7 Dec 2022

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 3549

Abstract

A nanocomposite composed of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and core–shell nanoparticles of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ was prepared as a pH-responsive nanocarrier for quercetin (QC) delivery. The nanoparticles were further entrapped in a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion system for a sustained release profile. The CMC/Fe₃O₄@SiO₂/QC nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) to obtain insights into their size, stability, functional groups/chemical bonds, crystalline structure, morphology, and magnetic properties, respectively. The entrapment and loading efficiency were slightly improved after the incorporation of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ NPs within the hydrogel network. The dialysis method was applied for drug release studies. It was found that the amount of QC released increased with the decrease in pH from 7.4 to 5.4, while the sustained-release pattern was preserved. The A549 cell line was chosen to assess the anticancer activity of the CMC/Fe₃O₄@SiO₂/QC nanoemulsion and its components for lung cancer treatment via an MTT assay. The L929 cell line was used in the MTT assay to determine the possible side effects of the nanoemulsion. Moreover, a flow cytometry test was performed to measure the level of apoptosis and necrosis. Based on the obtained results, CMC/Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ can be regarded as a novel promising system for cancer therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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25 pages, 2950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reduced Cardiotoxicity of Ponatinib-Loaded PLGA-PEG-PLGA Nanoparticles in Zebrafish Xenograft Model

by Hissa F. Al-Thani, Samar Shurbaji, Zain Zaki Zakaria, Maram H. Hasan, Katerina Goracinova, Hesham M. Korashy and Huseyin C. Yalcin

Materials 2022, 15(11), 3960; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15113960 - 2 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3286

Abstract

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the new generation of anti-cancer drugs with high potential against cancer cells’ proliferation and growth. However, TKIs are associated with severe cardiotoxicity, limiting their clinical value. One TKI that has been developed recently but not explored much is Ponatinib. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) as a better therapeutic agent to deliver anti-cancer drugs and reduce their cardiotoxicity has been recently considered. In this study, with the aim to reduce Ponatinib cardiotoxicity, Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)-b-poly(ethyleneoxide)-b-poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) triblock copolymer was used to synthesize Ponatinib in loaded PLGA-PEG-PLGA NPs for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treatment. In addition to physicochemical NPs characterization (NPs shape, size, size distribution, surface charge, dissolution rate, drug content, and efficacy of encapsulation) the efficacy and safety of these drug-delivery systems were assessed in vivo using zebrafish. Zebrafish are a powerful animal model for investigating the cardiotoxicity associated with anti-cancer drugs such as TKIs, to determine the optimum concentration of smart NPs with the least side effects, and to generate a xenograft model of several cancer types. Therefore, the cardiotoxicity of unloaded and drug-loaded PLGA-PEG-PLGA NPs was studied using the zebrafish model by measuring the survival rate and cardiac function parameters, and therapeutic concentration for in vivo efficacy studies was optimized in an in vivo setting. Further, the efficacy of drug-loaded PLGA-PEG-PLGA NPs was tested on the zebrafish cancer xenograft model, in which human myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 was transplanted into zebrafish embryos. Our results demonstrated that the Ponatinib-loaded PLGA-PEG-PLGA NPs at a concentration of 0.001 mg/mL are non-toxic/non-cardio-toxic in the studied zebrafish xenograft model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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23 pages, 10620 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rubus ellipticus Sm. Fruit Extract Mediated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: A Green Approach for Dye Degradation and Biomedical Applications

by Jyoti Dhatwalia, Amita Kumari, Ankush Chauhan, Kumari Mansi, Shabnam Thakur, Reena V. Saini, Ishita Guleria, Sohan Lal, Ashwani Kumar, Khalid Mujasam Batoo, Byung Hyune Choi, Amanda-Lee E. Manicum and Rajesh Kumar

Materials 2022, 15(10), 3470; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15103470 - 12 May 2022

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 3392 | Correction

Abstract

Rubus ellipticus fruits aqueous extract derived ZnO-nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through a green synthesis method. The structural, optical, and morphological properties of ZnO-NPs were investigated using XRD, FTIR, UV-vis spectrophotometer, XPS, FESEM, and TEM. The Rietveld refinement confirmed the phase purity of ZnO-NPs with hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure and p-63-mc space group with an average crystallite size of 20 nm. XPS revealed the presence of an oxygen chemisorbed species on the surface of ZnO-NPs. In addition, the nanoparticles exhibited significant in vitro antioxidant activity due to the attachment of the hydroxyl group of the phenols on the surface of the nanoparticles. Among all microbial strains, nanoparticles’ maximum antibacterial and antifungal activity in terms of MIC was observed against Bacillus subtilis (31.2 µg/mL) and Rosellinia necatrix (15.62 µg/mL), respectively. The anticancer activity revealed 52.41% of A549 cells death (IC₅₀: 158.1 ± 1.14 µg/mL) at 200 μg/mL concentration of nanoparticles, whereas photocatalytic activity showed about 17.5% degradation of the methylene blue within 60 min, with a final dye degradation efficiency of 72.7%. All these results suggest the medicinal potential of the synthesized ZnO-NPs and therefore can be recommended for use in wastewater treatment and medicinal purposes by pharmacological industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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Review

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19 pages, 2238 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Latent Potential of Multifunctional Selenium Nanoparticles in Neurological Diseases and Altered Gut Microbiota

by Hajra Ashraf, Davide Cossu, Stefano Ruberto, Marta Noli, Seyedesomaye Jasemi, Elena Rita Simula and Leonardo A. Sechi

Materials 2023, 16(2), 699; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020699 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3359

Abstract

Neurological diseases remain a major concern due to the high world mortality rate and the absence of appropriate therapies to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, the major focus is on the development of such strategies that not only enhance the efficacy of drugs but also increase their permeability in the BBB. Currently, nano-scale materials seem to be an appropriate approach to treating neurological diseases based on their drug-loading capacity, reduced toxicity, targeted delivery, and enhanced therapeutic effect. Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient and has been of remarkable interest owing to its essential role in the physiological activity of the nervous system, i.e., signal transmission, memory, coordination, and locomotor activity. A deficiency of Se leads to various neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, owing to the neuroprotective role of Se (selenium) nanoparticles (SeNPs) are of particular interest to treat neurological diseases. To date, many studies investigate the role of altered microbiota with neurological diseases; thus, the current review focused not only on the recent advancement in the field of nanotechnology, considering SeNPs to cure neurological diseases, but also on investigating the potential role of SeNPs in altered microbiota. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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40 pages, 8505 KiB

Open AccessReview

Surface Engineering of Nanomaterials with Polymers, Biomolecules, and Small Ligands for Nanomedicine

by Ana M. Díez-Pascual

Materials 2022, 15(9), 3251; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15093251 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 4267

Abstract

Nanomedicine is a speedily growing area of medical research that is focused on developing nanomaterials for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. Nanomaterials with unique physicochemical properties have recently attracted a lot of attention since they offer a lot of potential in biomedical research. Novel generations of engineered nanostructures, also known as designed and functionalized nanomaterials, have opened up new possibilities in the applications of biomedical approaches such as biological imaging, biomolecular sensing, medical devices, drug delivery, and therapy. Polymers, natural biomolecules, or synthetic ligands can interact physically or chemically with nanomaterials to functionalize them for targeted uses. This paper reviews current research in nanotechnology, with a focus on nanomaterial functionalization for medical applications. Firstly, a brief overview of the different types of nanomaterials and the strategies for their surface functionalization is offered. Secondly, different types of functionalized nanomaterials are reviewed. Then, their potential cytotoxicity and cost-effectiveness are discussed. Finally, their use in diverse fields is examined in detail, including cancer treatment, tissue engineering, drug/gene delivery, and medical implants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Nanomaterials and Structures for Biomedical Applications)

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